US6061052A - Display pointing device - Google Patents

Display pointing device Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US6061052A
US6061052A US08/990,623 US99062397A US6061052A US 6061052 A US6061052 A US 6061052A US 99062397 A US99062397 A US 99062397A US 6061052 A US6061052 A US 6061052A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
display
pattern
housing
optical sensor
region
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
US08/990,623
Inventor
Roni Raviv
Omri Rothschild
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US6061052A publication Critical patent/US6061052A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
    • G06F3/03—Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
    • G06F3/033—Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user, e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor
    • G06F3/038—Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
    • G06F3/0386—Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry for light pen
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
    • G06F3/03—Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
    • G06F3/0304—Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means
    • G06F3/0317—Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means in co-operation with a patterned surface, e.g. absolute position or relative movement detection for an optical mouse or pen positioned with respect to a coded surface
    • G06F3/0321—Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means in co-operation with a patterned surface, e.g. absolute position or relative movement detection for an optical mouse or pen positioned with respect to a coded surface by optically sensing the absolute position with respect to a regularly patterned surface forming a passive digitiser, e.g. pen optically detecting position indicative tags printed on a paper sheet
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
    • G06F3/03—Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
    • G06F3/033—Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user, e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor
    • G06F3/0354—Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user, e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor with detection of 2D relative movements between the device, or an operating part thereof, and a plane or surface, e.g. 2D mice, trackballs, pens or pucks
    • G06F3/03542—Light pens for emitting or receiving light
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
    • G06F3/03—Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
    • G06F3/041—Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
    • G06F3/042—Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means by opto-electronic means

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to display pointers which can be used to indicate a location on a display, such as a computer display.
  • display pointers are known in the art. These include devices such as "light pens” or toy firing devices which can be pointed at or brought into propinquity with a given location on a display, such as a CRT display, for sensing illumination features thereof.
  • Conventional light pens of this type require relatively complex synchronization circuitry for determining location on the display based on the time relationship of sensed illumination and of the time base of the display, including its synchronization pulses.
  • Prior art pointers of the type described hereinabove often require feedback in order to achieve location sensing.
  • a sensor on the pointer feeds back a signal that it sensed on the screen to a timing circuit in a computer.
  • the timing circuit determines the time relationship of the sensed signal to the vertical and horizontal video synchronization signals of the screen and thus determines the position of the pointer on the screen.
  • the present invention seeks to provide an improved, relatively low cost display pointing device having multiple and varied applications.
  • processing circuitry receiving an output from the optical sensor for identifying a location on a display pointed to by the pointing device based on the optically sensible characteristics of at least one pattern sensed by the optical sensor.
  • identifying a location on the display pointed to by the pointing device based on the optically sensible characteristics of at least one pattern sensed by the optical sensor.
  • the processing circuitry determines a location on the display pointed to by the pointing device based on the optically sensible characteristics of a plurality of patterns, which are seen sequentially by the optical sensor and which are optically distinguishable from each other.
  • the at least one pattern may or may not be superimposed on a displayed image, as by eliminating lines in a displayed image.
  • the at least one pattern may cover the entire display or only parts thereof.
  • the processing circuitry may employ pattern recognition circuitry which may be hard wired or embodied, wholly or partly in software.
  • the pointer may be used with a CRT display or alternatively with other types of display such as liquid crystal displays.
  • FIG. 1 is a simplified illustration of a CRT pointing system constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention
  • FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C illustrate the operation of a CRT pointing system of FIG. 1;
  • FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D and 3E are illustrations of five coded patterns employed in the system of FIGS. 2A-2C and corresponding pulse trains sensed by a pointer viewing such patterns;
  • FIG. 4 is a simplified sectional illustration of a preferred pointer constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention
  • FIGS. 5A and 5B together are an electrical schematic illustration of a preferred embodiment of the pointer of FIG. 4;
  • FIG. 6 is a simplified illustration of a CRT pointing system constructed and operative in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D and 7E illustrate the operation of a CRT pointing system of FIG. 6;
  • FIG. 8 is a timing diagram related to the operation of the embodiment of FIGS. 6-7E;
  • FIG. 9 is a simplified illustration of a CRT pointing system constructed and operative in accordance with still another preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIGS. 10A, 10B, 10C and 10D illustrate the operation of a CRT pointing system of FIG. 9;
  • FIGS. 11A, 11B and 11C illustrate the operation of the embodiment of FIGS. 9-10D;
  • FIG. 12 is a simplified illustration of a CRT pointing system constructed and operative in accordance with yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 13 is an illustration of the structure of the field of view of a trackable cursor employed in the system of FIG. 12;
  • FIGS. 14A and 14B are together a flowchart illustrating the operation of the system of FIGS. 12 and 13;
  • FIG. 15 is an illustration of apparatus for remote pointing in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
  • Appendix 1 is listing of software embodied in a microcontroller forming part of the circuitry of FIG. 5B.
  • FIG. 1 is a simplified illustration of a CRT pointing system constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • the system comprises a conventional computer 10 including a circuit board housing 12, a keyboard 14 and a display 16, such as a CRT display.
  • a pointer 20 which can be used to point to a given location on the display 16, as figuratively illustrated in FIG. 2A.
  • the pointer 20 includes a hand held housing 21 within which is disposed an optical sensor which is preferably located at a tip 22 thereof.
  • the optical sensor is coupled by a wire 24 or alternatively in a wireless manner to processing circuitry which may be located within the housing 21 or alternatively in a circuit board 26 located within circuit board housing 12.
  • FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C illustrate the operation of the CRT pointing system of FIG. 1 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention in the context of a simple game in which the user bursts balloons by pointing at them.
  • the user normally sees what is illustrated in FIG. 2A, however, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, intermittently and for a duration which preferably is so short that it cannot be seen by the user, each of the balloons is indicated by a differing pattern, as seen in FIG. 2B.
  • This pattern is sensed by the optical sensor in the pointer 20 and is recognized by the processing circuitry downstream thereof. Once a given pattern corresponding to a given balloon is recognized, the processing circuitry provides an output indication which causes a burst balloon image to appear on the display, as illustrated in FIG. 2C.
  • FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D and 3E are illustrations of five coded patterns employed in the system of FIGS. 2A-2C and corresponding pulse trains sensed by a pointer viewing such patterns.
  • FIG. 3A illustrates a blank screen which contains all scan lines
  • FIGS. 3B, 3C, 3D and 3E illustrate the patterns of balloons which are indicated by respective reference numerals 30, 32, 34 and 36 in FIG. 2B.
  • the optical sensor senses the pulse train corresponding to each of the patterns without requiring synchronization with the vertical and horizontal synchronization pulses employed by the display.
  • FIG. 4 is a simplified sectional illustration of a preferred pressure-actuated pointer 20 constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • the pointer preferably comprises a housing 40 having a spring biased retractable tip 42 in which is disposed an optical sensor 44, such as a Motorola MRD 3056 phototransistor.
  • Retraction of tip 42 against the urging of a spring 46 is operative to close a switch, shown schematically at reference numeral 48.
  • the output of optical sensor 44 is preferably supplied to processing circuitry located on a printed circuit board 50 which communicates via a cable 52 and a connector 54 with suitable circuitry within circuit board housing 12 (FIG. 1).
  • FIGS. 5A and 5B are an electrical schematic illustration of a preferred embodiment of the pointer of FIG. 4.
  • the optical sensor 44 is preferably a phototransistor such as an MRD 3056 which outputs via an amplification circuit to a signal processing circuit U1, such as a PIC16CR54RC-P microcontroller.
  • the signal processing circuit is in turn coupled to connector 54, which is typically a DB15 connector which interfaces with a conventional game port of any suitable PC computer.
  • FIG. 6 is a simplified illustration of a CRT pointing system constructed and operative in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • the optical sensor and associated processing circuitry senses a series of sequential patterns, the combination of which indicated a particular location on the display 16.
  • FIG. 8 illustrates the identity of the pattern which is sensed by the optical sensor, aimed at the black pawn, at various times.
  • T1 which corresponds to FIG. 7A
  • no pattern is sensed.
  • pattern C (FIG. 7B)
  • pattern D (FIG. 7C)
  • T4 pattern B (FIG. 7D) is sensed and at time T5, no pattern is sensed, as indicated in FIG. 7E.
  • FIG. 9 is a simplified illustration of a CRT pointing system constructed and operative in accordance with still another preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • a standard computer application is shown on the display screen 116.
  • each region has a unique pattern or patterns which is not sensitive to pen position within the region, here highly accurate vertical position sensing is provided.
  • FIG. 10A shows the screen 116 that is normally viewed by the user
  • FIGS. 10B and 10C illustrate sequential patterns 120, 122 which appear on the display screen 116 to provide position determination.
  • the pattern 120 of FIG. 10B is a series of vertical lines which enable vertical position therealong to be sensed unambiguously
  • the pattern 122 of FIG. 10C is a pattern which enables horizontal position to be sensed, albeit to a lesser degree of resolution than that realized for the vertical position.
  • FIG. 10D illustrates the appearance of display screen 116 when the pointer is pointing at the "4" key.
  • the pattern of FIG. 11A is a particularly useful arrangement of lines for unambiguously indicating vertical position, it being understood that various other arrangements may be employed.
  • the pattern of FIG. 11A is built of pairs of illuminated horizontal lines, each indicated by an asterix, separated by typically six lines which may or may not be illuminated in accordance with a given binary code. The six horizontal lines thus provide 64 different coded combinations.
  • the pattern of FIG. 11A employs successive inversely coded arrangements.
  • the first group of six horizontal lines represents the binary number "5" and the successive group of six horizontal lines represents the binary number "58".
  • the next group of six horizontal lines represents the binary number 6, and the next successive group of six horizontal lines represents the binary number "57”.
  • FIG. 11A shows a portion of the pattern of FIG. 10B and indicates, at reference numeral 80, a portion of the pattern which can be seen by a pointer 20 at a given pointer position.
  • FIG. 11B indicates the code sequence sensed by the pointer 20 viewing the pattern portion indicated by reference numeral 80
  • FIG. 11C indicates the code sequence sensed by the pointer 20 viewing a pattern portion indicated by a reference numeral 82.
  • the coarse position of the pointer is determined by the identity of the coded 6-line pattern, while the precise position of the pointer is determined by counting the number of scan lines between the extreme illuminated scan lines that are sensed by the optical sensor. This indicates the extent of the field of view of the optical sensor. By dividing this number in half, the center of the field of view is determined and thus the precise position of the pointer is determined.
  • the center of the field of view of the pointer is indicated as Y1 and Y2 respectively in FIGS. 11B and 11C.
  • the horizontal position is determined by means of sensing the patterns shown in FIG. 10C, using the techniques described hereinabove with reference to FIGS. 2B-3E.
  • FIG. 12 is a simplified illustration of a CRT pointing system constructed and operative in accordance with yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • the pointing system of FIG. 12 is particularly suitable for "drawing" on a display screen 100, using a pointer 102.
  • the CRT pointing system of FIG. 12 preferably employs a multi-patterned trackable cursor dot 110, such as that shown in FIG. 13.
  • FIG. 13 illustrates the structure of the trackable cursor 110 employed in the system of FIG. 12, showing preferably nine different sensing regions, each bearing a different pattern, which pattern can be distinguished one from the other by an optical sensor (not shown) in pointer 102 or by downstream circuitry associated therewith.
  • FIGS. 14A and 14B are together a flowchart illustrating the operation of the system of FIGS. 12 and 13.
  • the pattern read by the optical sensor indicates the direction of intended movement of the cursor dot.
  • the sensed pattern is the C or central pattern, the X and Y positions of the cursor dot are not changed.
  • the optical sensor senses the pattern "N"
  • the cursor is displaced upwardly in the next frame. Similar cursor displacements are indicated by sensing the patterns "S”, “E”, “W”, “NW”, “NE”, “SW” and “SE”, as indicated in FIGS. 14A and 14B.
  • FIG. 15 is an illustration of apparatus for remote pointing in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
  • the pointer of FIG. 15 typically comprises a generally gun-shaped housing 140 having a lens 142 at the front thereof for viewing a given location on a display screen 143.
  • An optical sensor 144 such as a Motorola MRD3056 phototransistor, is provided at the focal plane of lens 142.
  • a trigger 146 is operative to close a switch, shown schematically at reference numeral 148.
  • the output of optical sensor 144 is preferably supplied to processing circuitry located on a printed circuit board 150 which communicates via a cable 152 or alternatively in a wireless manner, and a connector 154 with suitable circuitry within circuit board housing 12 (FIG. 1).

Abstract

This invention discloses a display pointing device inclduing a housing, an optical sensor mounted in the housing, and processing circuitry receiving an output from the optical sensor for identifying a location on a display pointed to by the pointing device based on the optically sensible characteristics of at least one pattern at the location which is sensed by the optical sensor. A method for operating the display pointing device is also disclosed.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to display pointers which can be used to indicate a location on a display, such as a computer display.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Various types of display pointers are known in the art. These include devices such as "light pens" or toy firing devices which can be pointed at or brought into propinquity with a given location on a display, such as a CRT display, for sensing illumination features thereof. Conventional light pens of this type require relatively complex synchronization circuitry for determining location on the display based on the time relationship of sensed illumination and of the time base of the display, including its synchronization pulses.
Prior art pointers of the type described hereinabove often require feedback in order to achieve location sensing. In practice a sensor on the pointer feeds back a signal that it sensed on the screen to a timing circuit in a computer. The timing circuit determines the time relationship of the sensed signal to the vertical and horizontal video synchronization signals of the screen and thus determines the position of the pointer on the screen.
The current state of the art is believed to be represented by the following U.S. Patents: U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,187,467; 5,184,115; 5,119,075; 4,608,601; 4,602,907; 4,190,851; 3,944,988; 3,832,693; 3,758,717; 3,659,281; 3,594,608; 3,576,574; 3,551,896; 3,543,240; 3,506,875; 3,505,561; 5,572,251; 5,138,304; 5,134,389; 5,051,736; 4,956,639; 4,922,236; 4,675,665; 4,591,841; 4,377,810 & 4,367,465.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention seeks to provide an improved, relatively low cost display pointing device having multiple and varied applications.
There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a display pointing device including:
a housing;
an optical sensor mounted in the housing; and
processing circuitry receiving an output from the optical sensor for identifying a location on a display pointed to by the pointing device based on the optically sensible characteristics of at least one pattern sensed by the optical sensor.
There is also provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a display pointing method including:
pointing an optical sensor mounted in the housing at a location on a display;
receiving an output from the optical sensor; and
identifying a location on the display pointed to by the pointing device based on the optically sensible characteristics of at least one pattern sensed by the optical sensor.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the processing circuitry determines a location on the display pointed to by the pointing device based on the optically sensible characteristics of a plurality of patterns, which are seen sequentially by the optical sensor and which are optically distinguishable from each other.
The at least one pattern may or may not be superimposed on a displayed image, as by eliminating lines in a displayed image. The at least one pattern may cover the entire display or only parts thereof.
The processing circuitry may employ pattern recognition circuitry which may be hard wired or embodied, wholly or partly in software.
The pointer may be used with a CRT display or alternatively with other types of display such as liquid crystal displays.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a simplified illustration of a CRT pointing system constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C illustrate the operation of a CRT pointing system of FIG. 1;
FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D and 3E are illustrations of five coded patterns employed in the system of FIGS. 2A-2C and corresponding pulse trains sensed by a pointer viewing such patterns;
FIG. 4 is a simplified sectional illustration of a preferred pointer constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIGS. 5A and 5B together are an electrical schematic illustration of a preferred embodiment of the pointer of FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a simplified illustration of a CRT pointing system constructed and operative in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D and 7E illustrate the operation of a CRT pointing system of FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a timing diagram related to the operation of the embodiment of FIGS. 6-7E;
FIG. 9 is a simplified illustration of a CRT pointing system constructed and operative in accordance with still another preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIGS. 10A, 10B, 10C and 10D illustrate the operation of a CRT pointing system of FIG. 9;
FIGS. 11A, 11B and 11C illustrate the operation of the embodiment of FIGS. 9-10D;
FIG. 12 is a simplified illustration of a CRT pointing system constructed and operative in accordance with yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 13 is an illustration of the structure of the field of view of a trackable cursor employed in the system of FIG. 12;
FIGS. 14A and 14B are together a flowchart illustrating the operation of the system of FIGS. 12 and 13; and
FIG. 15 is an illustration of apparatus for remote pointing in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
LIST OF APPENDICES
Appendix 1 is listing of software embodied in a microcontroller forming part of the circuitry of FIG. 5B.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which is a simplified illustration of a CRT pointing system constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The system comprises a conventional computer 10 including a circuit board housing 12, a keyboard 14 and a display 16, such as a CRT display. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is additionally provided a pointer 20 which can be used to point to a given location on the display 16, as figuratively illustrated in FIG. 2A.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the pointer 20 includes a hand held housing 21 within which is disposed an optical sensor which is preferably located at a tip 22 thereof. The optical sensor is coupled by a wire 24 or alternatively in a wireless manner to processing circuitry which may be located within the housing 21 or alternatively in a circuit board 26 located within circuit board housing 12.
FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C illustrate the operation of the CRT pointing system of FIG. 1 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention in the context of a simple game in which the user bursts balloons by pointing at them. The user normally sees what is illustrated in FIG. 2A, however, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, intermittently and for a duration which preferably is so short that it cannot be seen by the user, each of the balloons is indicated by a differing pattern, as seen in FIG. 2B. This pattern is sensed by the optical sensor in the pointer 20 and is recognized by the processing circuitry downstream thereof. Once a given pattern corresponding to a given balloon is recognized, the processing circuitry provides an output indication which causes a burst balloon image to appear on the display, as illustrated in FIG. 2C.
Reference is now made to FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D and 3E, which are illustrations of five coded patterns employed in the system of FIGS. 2A-2C and corresponding pulse trains sensed by a pointer viewing such patterns. FIG. 3A illustrates a blank screen which contains all scan lines, while FIGS. 3B, 3C, 3D and 3E illustrate the patterns of balloons which are indicated by respective reference numerals 30, 32, 34 and 36 in FIG. 2B. It is to be appreciated that preferably, the optical sensor senses the pulse train corresponding to each of the patterns without requiring synchronization with the vertical and horizontal synchronization pulses employed by the display.
Reference is now made to FIG. 4, which is a simplified sectional illustration of a preferred pressure-actuated pointer 20 constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The pointer preferably comprises a housing 40 having a spring biased retractable tip 42 in which is disposed an optical sensor 44, such as a Motorola MRD 3056 phototransistor.
Retraction of tip 42 against the urging of a spring 46 is operative to close a switch, shown schematically at reference numeral 48. The output of optical sensor 44 is preferably supplied to processing circuitry located on a printed circuit board 50 which communicates via a cable 52 and a connector 54 with suitable circuitry within circuit board housing 12 (FIG. 1).
Reference is now made to FIGS. 5A and 5B, which together are an electrical schematic illustration of a preferred embodiment of the pointer of FIG. 4. It is seen that the optical sensor 44 is preferably a phototransistor such as an MRD 3056 which outputs via an amplification circuit to a signal processing circuit U1, such as a PIC16CR54RC-P microcontroller. The signal processing circuit is in turn coupled to connector 54, which is typically a DB15 connector which interfaces with a conventional game port of any suitable PC computer.
Reference is now made to FIG. 6, which is a simplified illustration of a CRT pointing system constructed and operative in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, rather than sensing a pattern, the optical sensor and associated processing circuitry senses a series of sequential patterns, the combination of which indicated a particular location on the display 16.
Referring now to FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D and 7E and the timing diagram of FIG. 8, it can be seen that while the user sees the display shown in FIG. 7A, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, and as distinguished from the embodiment of FIGS. 2A-3E, sequentially and over a duration which preferably is so short that it cannot be seen by the user, each of the patterns of FIGS. 7B, 7C, and 7D appears on the display at least on the portion of the display which the pointer is pointing to.
The sequence of patterns sensed by the optical sensor in the pointer 20 and is recognized by the processing circuitry downstream thereof. Once a given pattern sequence corresponding to a given location is recognized, the processing circuitry provides an output indication which causes an illuminated symbol to appear on the display at the given location, as illustrated in FIG. 7E.
FIG. 8 illustrates the identity of the pattern which is sensed by the optical sensor, aimed at the black pawn, at various times. Thus at time T1, which corresponds to FIG. 7A, no pattern is sensed. At time T2, pattern C (FIG. 7B) is sensed. At time T3, pattern D (FIG. 7C) is sensed, at time T4, pattern B (FIG. 7D) is sensed and at time T5, no pattern is sensed, as indicated in FIG. 7E.
Reference is now made to FIG. 9, which is a simplified illustration of a CRT pointing system constructed and operative in accordance with still another preferred embodiment of the present invention. A standard computer application is shown on the display screen 116.
Referring additionally to FIGS. 10A, 10B, 10C and 10D it is seen that in contrast to the pointing systems described hereinabove, wherein each region has a unique pattern or patterns which is not sensitive to pen position within the region, here highly accurate vertical position sensing is provided.
FIG. 10A shows the screen 116 that is normally viewed by the user, while FIGS. 10B and 10C illustrate sequential patterns 120, 122 which appear on the display screen 116 to provide position determination. The pattern 120 of FIG. 10B is a series of vertical lines which enable vertical position therealong to be sensed unambiguously, while the pattern 122 of FIG. 10C is a pattern which enables horizontal position to be sensed, albeit to a lesser degree of resolution than that realized for the vertical position. FIG. 10D illustrates the appearance of display screen 116 when the pointer is pointing at the "4" key.
The pattern of FIG. 11A is a particularly useful arrangement of lines for unambiguously indicating vertical position, it being understood that various other arrangements may be employed. The pattern of FIG. 11A is built of pairs of illuminated horizontal lines, each indicated by an asterix, separated by typically six lines which may or may not be illuminated in accordance with a given binary code. The six horizontal lines thus provide 64 different coded combinations.
In order to minimize ambiguity, the pattern of FIG. 11A employs successive inversely coded arrangements. Thus the first group of six horizontal lines represents the binary number "5" and the successive group of six horizontal lines represents the binary number "58". The next group of six horizontal lines represents the binary number 6, and the next successive group of six horizontal lines represents the binary number "57".
Reference is now made to FIGS. 11A, 11B and 11C, which illustrate the operation of the embodiment of FIGS. 9-10D. FIG. 11A shows a portion of the pattern of FIG. 10B and indicates, at reference numeral 80, a portion of the pattern which can be seen by a pointer 20 at a given pointer position.
FIG. 11B indicates the code sequence sensed by the pointer 20 viewing the pattern portion indicated by reference numeral 80, while FIG. 11C indicates the code sequence sensed by the pointer 20 viewing a pattern portion indicated by a reference numeral 82.
It may be appreciated from a consideration of FIGS. 11B and 11C that the coarse position of the pointer is determined by the identity of the coded 6-line pattern, while the precise position of the pointer is determined by counting the number of scan lines between the extreme illuminated scan lines that are sensed by the optical sensor. This indicates the extent of the field of view of the optical sensor. By dividing this number in half, the center of the field of view is determined and thus the precise position of the pointer is determined. The center of the field of view of the pointer is indicated as Y1 and Y2 respectively in FIGS. 11B and 11C.
Once the precise vertical position of the pointer is determined, the horizontal position is determined by means of sensing the patterns shown in FIG. 10C, using the techniques described hereinabove with reference to FIGS. 2B-3E.
Reference is now made to FIG. 12, which is a simplified illustration of a CRT pointing system constructed and operative in accordance with yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention. The pointing system of FIG. 12 is particularly suitable for "drawing" on a display screen 100, using a pointer 102. The CRT pointing system of FIG. 12 preferably employs a multi-patterned trackable cursor dot 110, such as that shown in FIG. 13.
FIG. 13 illustrates the structure of the trackable cursor 110 employed in the system of FIG. 12, showing preferably nine different sensing regions, each bearing a different pattern, which pattern can be distinguished one from the other by an optical sensor (not shown) in pointer 102 or by downstream circuitry associated therewith.
FIGS. 14A and 14B are together a flowchart illustrating the operation of the system of FIGS. 12 and 13. When the pointer 102 is directed at one of the regions of the cursor dot 110 of FIG. 13, the pattern read by the optical sensor indicates the direction of intended movement of the cursor dot. Thus, as indicated in FIGS. 14A and 14B, if the sensed pattern is the C or central pattern, the X and Y positions of the cursor dot are not changed.
If however, the optical sensor senses the pattern "N", the cursor is displaced upwardly in the next frame. Similar cursor displacements are indicated by sensing the patterns "S", "E", "W", "NW", "NE", "SW" and "SE", as indicated in FIGS. 14A and 14B.
Reference is now made to FIG. 15, which is an illustration of apparatus for remote pointing in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The pointer of FIG. 15 typically comprises a generally gun-shaped housing 140 having a lens 142 at the front thereof for viewing a given location on a display screen 143. An optical sensor 144, such as a Motorola MRD3056 phototransistor, is provided at the focal plane of lens 142. A trigger 146 is operative to close a switch, shown schematically at reference numeral 148. The output of optical sensor 144 is preferably supplied to processing circuitry located on a printed circuit board 150 which communicates via a cable 152 or alternatively in a wireless manner, and a connector 154 with suitable circuitry within circuit board housing 12 (FIG. 1).
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited by what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove but rather extends to equivalents of the structures and features described and shown as well as to various combinations and subcombinations of those feature which are not known or obvious from the prior art.
APPENDIX 1
// Light Pen HEX Module
:100000000400280067000400E702030AE802030A6C
:100010000008070C2600040065061A0A000000000C
:100020000000000000000000000000000000E702E7
:100030000B0A0708DD09280028024307C10A070246
:100040002B00DD09280028024307C10A07022C0003
:10005000DD09280028024307C10A07022D00DD0937
:10006000280028024307C10A07022E000B02CB0911
:100070002B000C02CB092C000D02CB092D000E0227
:10008000CB092E006700400C8B004306A702400CF2
:100090008C0043074F0A07060308A702500A6700AF
:1000A000400C8D004307580A07060308A702590AA7
:1000B0006700400C8E004307660A07060308A70284
:1000C000400C8F004307660A070603086700200CF0
:1000D0008B004306A702200C8C004307710AA7027D
:1000E000720A6700200C8D004307900AA702030CD8
:1000F000870043077C0A0008200C8E004307900A03
:10010000A702030C87004307860A0008200C8F0013
:100110004307900AA702030C87004307900A0008D0
:100120006700200C8B004306A702200C8C004306BE
:10013000A702200C8D004306A702200C8E00430668
:10014000A702200C8F004306A702270243060708D8
:100150006700400C8B004306A702400C8C0043064E
:10016000A702400C8D004306A702400C8E004306F8
:10017000A702400C8F004306A70227024306070888
:100180000608800C88004307C60A0408600C880033
:1001900043070708050827003C0C87000306FF08F3
:1001A000280C8700030680081A0C870003066008E5
:1001B0000E0C870003064008200867006507E20A66
:1001C000A702DE0A6506E60AA702E20A1A0C870001
:1001D000030700083C0C87000306FF08280C870073
:1001E000030680086008F00C2500FC0C0500FF0CDD
:1001F0000200FF0C2600000C060004004507030B5C
:100200000F0C2600FD0A09092600070F4306FD0A08
:0A021000140C0009070C2600FD0A7B
:0203FE00F30A00
:00000001FF

Claims (32)

We claim:
1. A display pointing device comprising:
a user pointable housing;
an optical sensor mounted in the housing and being operative for sensing optically sensible characteristics of at least one spatial pattern in a region on a display which is pointed to by said user pointable housing and providing an output representing said region; and
processing circuitry receiving said output from said optical sensor and identifying said at least one spatial pattern appearing at said region of said display pointed to by said housing based on optically sensible characteristics of said at least one spatial pattern, said processing circuitry providing an input for use by a computer driving said display.
2. A device according to claim 1 and wherein said at least one spatial pattern comprises a plurality of different spatial patterns which appear in a time sequence at said region and wherein said processing circuitry identifies said at least one spatial pattern based on optically sensible characteristics of said plurality of spatial patterns.
3. A device according to claim 1 and wherein said at least one pattern is superimposed on a displayed image.
4. A device according to claim 2 and wherein said at least one pattern is superimposed on a displayed image.
5. A device according to claim 1 and wherein said at least one pattern is superimposed on a displayed image by eliminating lines in said displayed image.
6. A device according to claim 1 and wherein said at least one pattern covers generally an entire screen of said display.
7. A device according to claim 1 and wherein said at least one pattern covers parts of a screen of said display.
8. A device according to claim 1 and wherein said processing circuitry employs pattern recognition circuitry.
9. A device according to claim 1 and also comprising a display.
10. A device according to claim 9 and wherein said display is a CRT display.
11. A device according to claim 9 and wherein said display is a liquid crystal display.
12. A display pointing method including:
pointing an optical sensor mounted in a housing at a region on a display;
causing said optical sensor mounted in said housing to sense optically sensible characteristics of at least one spatial pattern in said region on said display which is pointed to by said optical sensor and to provide an output representing said region;
receiving said output from said optical sensor; and
identifying said at least one spatial pattern appearing at said region of said display pointed to by said optical sensor based on optically sensible characteristics of said at least one spatial pattern sensed by said optical sensor.
13. A method according to claim 12 and wherein said step of identifying a location employs optically sensible characteristics of a plurality of different spatial patterns which appear in a time sequence at said region.
14. A method according to claim 12 and wherein said at least one pattern is superimposed on a displayed image.
15. A method according to claim 13 and wherein said at least one pattern is superimposed on a displayed image.
16. A method according to claim 12 and wherein said at least one pattern is superimposed on a displayed pattern by eliminating lines in said displayed image.
17. A method according to claim 12 and wherein said at least one pattern covers generally an entire screen of said display.
18. A method according to claim 12 and wherein said at least one pattern covers parts of a screen of said display.
19. A method according to claim 12 and wherein the determination step employs pattern recognition.
20. A method system according to claim 12 and wherein said optical sensor views a CRT display.
21. A method according to claim 12 and wherein said optical sensor views a liquid crystal display.
22. A method according to claim 19 and wherein said pattern recognition employs an unambiguous pattern of scan lines.
23. A display pointing device comprising:
a user pointable housing;
an optical sensor mounted in the housing and being operative for sensing optically sensible characteristics of a region on a display which is pointed to by said user pointable housing and providing an output representing said region;
processing circuitry receiving said output from said optical sensor and identifying at least one pattern appearing at said region of said display pointed to by said housing based on optically sensible characteristics of said at least one pattern; and
a user actuable trigger operative in association with said display to cause said pattern to appear on said display in response to trigger actuation.
24. A display pointing device according to claim 23 and wherein said user actuable trigger is operative in association with said display to cause said pattern to appear on said display at said region on said display which is pointed to by said user pointable housing.
25. A display pointing system comprising:
a computer;
a display driven by said computer;
a display pointing device including:
a user pointable housing;
an optical sensor mounted in the housing and being operative for sensing optically sensible characteristics of at least one spatial pattern in a region on a display which is pointed to by said user pointable housing and providing an output representing said region; and
processing circuitry receiving said output from said optical sensor and identifying said at least one spatial pattern appearing at said region of said display pointed to by said housing based on optically sensible characteristics of said at least one spatial pattern, said processing circuitry providing an input for use by a computer driving said display.
26. A system according to claim 25 and wherein said at least one spatial pattern comprises a plurality of different spatial patterns which appear in a time sequence at said region and wherein said processing circuitry identifies said at least one spatial pattern based on optically sensible characteristics of said plurality of spatial patterns.
27. A system according to claim 25 and wherein said display pointing device also comprises:
a user actuable trigger operative in association with said display to cause said pattern to appear on said display in response to trigger actuation.
28. A system according to claim 25 and wherein said input provided by said processing circuitry is employed by said computer to terminate display of said at least one spatial pattern.
29. A system according to claim 28 wherein said computer is part of an interactive system and wherein said input provided by said processing circuitry is also employed by said computer as a user interactive input causing said interactive system to respond thereto.
30. A system according to claim 27 and wherein said spatial pattern appears briefly following said trigger actuation and prior to provision of said input to said computer by said processing circuitry.
31. A display pointing device according to claim 1 and wherein said user pointable housing is in the shape of a firearm.
32. A display pointing device according to claim 1 and wherein said user pointable housing is in the shape of a pen.
US08/990,623 1997-02-09 1997-12-15 Display pointing device Expired - Fee Related US6061052A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IL120186 1997-02-09
IL12018697A IL120186A (en) 1997-02-09 1997-02-09 Display pointing device and method

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US6061052A true US6061052A (en) 2000-05-09

Family

ID=11069784

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US08/990,623 Expired - Fee Related US6061052A (en) 1997-02-09 1997-12-15 Display pointing device

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US6061052A (en)
EP (1) EP1016063A4 (en)
JP (1) JP2001511275A (en)
AU (1) AU5234498A (en)
CA (1) CA2280514A1 (en)
IL (1) IL120186A (en)
WO (1) WO1998035336A1 (en)

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20020008721A1 (en) * 2000-03-21 2002-01-24 Christer Fahraeus Method and system for digitizing freehand graphics with user-selected properties
US6373464B1 (en) 2000-02-04 2002-04-16 R&R Design And Development Ltd. Magnifying glass computer input device
US20020190966A1 (en) * 2001-06-15 2002-12-19 Bjorn Fermgard Pen
US20030011566A1 (en) * 1998-12-17 2003-01-16 Shinichiro Gomi Image processing apparatus, image processing method, providing medium and presentation system
US6593972B1 (en) * 1998-05-12 2003-07-15 Clark E. Johnson, Jr. Interactive display system
US6839049B1 (en) * 2000-11-17 2005-01-04 Intel Corporation Physically interacting with a processor-based display
US20050272493A1 (en) * 2004-05-10 2005-12-08 Bermudez Melissa I Mixed media game and methods
US20060072828A1 (en) * 1999-10-25 2006-04-06 Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd Method and system for digitizing freehand graphics with user-selected properties
US7233321B1 (en) 1998-12-15 2007-06-19 Intel Corporation Pointing device with integrated audio input
US20090135163A1 (en) * 1999-10-25 2009-05-28 Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd System For Digitizing Freehand Graphics On A Printed Surface

Families Citing this family (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6594406B1 (en) * 1996-12-20 2003-07-15 Xerox Corporation Multi-level selection methods and apparatus using context identification for embedded data graphical user interfaces
AU5007000A (en) * 1999-05-14 2000-12-05 Cbd Technologies, Inc. Stylus pen for writing on the monitor
US6832116B1 (en) 2000-02-16 2004-12-14 Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (Publ) Method and system for controlling an electronic utility device using an electronic reading device
EP1264270B1 (en) 2000-02-16 2004-04-28 Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ) Printer pen
US6885878B1 (en) 2000-02-16 2005-04-26 Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (Publ) Method and system for using an electronic reading device as a general application input and navigation interface
US6593908B1 (en) * 2000-02-16 2003-07-15 Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ) Method and system for using an electronic reading device on non-paper devices
US6738053B1 (en) 2000-02-16 2004-05-18 Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ) Predefined electronic pen applications in specially formatted paper
US6813396B1 (en) 2000-02-16 2004-11-02 Telefonatiebolaget L.M. Ericsson (Publ) Method for sharing information between electronic reading devices
US6952497B1 (en) 2000-02-16 2005-10-04 Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (Publ) Method and system for electronically recording transactions and performing security function
US6693623B1 (en) 2000-02-16 2004-02-17 Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ) Measuring applications for an electronic reading device
US6839623B1 (en) 2000-02-16 2005-01-04 Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ) Positioning applications for an electronic reading device
US6611259B1 (en) 2000-02-16 2003-08-26 Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ) System and method for operating an electronic reading device user interface
US7084888B2 (en) 2001-08-09 2006-08-01 Konami Corporation Orientation detection marker, orientation detection device and video game device
JP3626711B2 (en) * 2001-08-09 2005-03-09 コナミ株式会社 Marker for directional position detection, directional position detection apparatus, and shooting game apparatus

Citations (44)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3505561A (en) * 1967-02-14 1970-04-07 Massachusetts Inst Technology Analog pen tracking on a cathode ray tube display device
US3506875A (en) * 1967-06-28 1970-04-14 Hitachi Ltd Pen-tracking system in cathode-ray tube display equipment
US3543240A (en) * 1968-05-06 1970-11-24 Rca Corp Light pen operating with remote graphic display
US3551896A (en) * 1968-01-15 1970-12-29 Ibm Deductive light pen tracking system
US3576574A (en) * 1968-01-15 1971-04-27 Ibm Light pen tracking unit with alternative tracking patterns
US3594608A (en) * 1969-05-12 1971-07-20 Tektronix Inc Electron beam display system having light detector pen with associated sampling and memory circuits
US3659281A (en) * 1970-01-19 1972-04-25 Nippon Electric Co Light pen tracking system
US3758717A (en) * 1970-05-28 1973-09-11 Ibm Se information free hand drawing display system utilizing light pen to write and era
US3832693A (en) * 1971-08-29 1974-08-27 Fujitsu Ltd System for reading out the coordinates of information displayed on a matrix type display device
US3944988A (en) * 1969-11-21 1976-03-16 Compagnie Internationale Pour L'informatique - C.I.I. Image-display system interacting with light pen
US3993861A (en) * 1975-03-24 1976-11-23 Sanders Associates, Inc. Digital video modulation and demodulation system
US4126851A (en) * 1975-11-03 1978-11-21 Okor Joseph K Programmable television game system
US4185825A (en) * 1977-08-08 1980-01-29 Coleco Industries, Inc. Television target game and method
US4190851A (en) * 1975-09-17 1980-02-26 Hughes Aircraft Company Monolithic extrinsic silicon infrared detectors with charge coupled device readout
US4205847A (en) * 1976-11-23 1980-06-03 Loewe-Opta Gmbh Target video game avoiding erroneous counts
US4210329A (en) * 1976-11-23 1980-07-01 Loewe-Opta Gmbh Videogame with mechanically disjoint target detector
US4243972A (en) * 1979-03-29 1981-01-06 Esmark, Incorporated Method of and apparatus for signature coded target recognition
US4367465A (en) * 1980-04-04 1983-01-04 Hewlett-Packard Company Graphics light pen and method for raster scan CRT
US4377810A (en) * 1980-12-04 1983-03-22 Data General Corporation Light pen detection circuit and method
US4395045A (en) * 1980-06-16 1983-07-26 Sanders Associates, Inc. Television precision target shooting apparatus and method
US4591841A (en) * 1983-11-01 1986-05-27 Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation Long range optical pointing for video screens
US4602907A (en) * 1981-08-17 1986-07-29 Foster Richard W Light pen controlled interactive video system
US4608601A (en) * 1982-07-12 1986-08-26 The Moving Picture Company Inc. Video response testing apparatus
US4675665A (en) * 1982-12-22 1987-06-23 International Business Machines Corporation Realtime tracking of a movable cursor
US4813682A (en) * 1985-08-09 1989-03-21 Nintendo Co., Ltd. Video target control and sensing circuit for photosensitive gun
US4815733A (en) * 1984-12-28 1989-03-28 Nintendo Co., Ltd. Photosensing video game control system
US4922236A (en) * 1988-04-25 1990-05-01 Richard Heady Fiber optical mouse
US4956639A (en) * 1985-12-23 1990-09-11 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Display data processing device
US4979029A (en) * 1963-03-11 1990-12-18 Lemelson Jerome H Method and systems for scanning and inspecting images
US4984073A (en) * 1954-12-24 1991-01-08 Lemelson Jerome H Methods and systems for scanning and inspecting images
US4999617A (en) * 1985-10-24 1991-03-12 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Device for reading patterns displayed on a display unit
US5051736A (en) * 1989-06-28 1991-09-24 International Business Machines Corporation Optical stylus and passive digitizing tablet data input system
US5119075A (en) * 1990-06-18 1992-06-02 At&T Bell Laboratories Scheme for determining position of surface contact of cathode ray tube screen
US5134389A (en) * 1989-02-01 1992-07-28 International Business Machines Corporation Display terminal device
US5138304A (en) * 1990-08-02 1992-08-11 Hewlett-Packard Company Projected image light pen
US5179368A (en) * 1989-11-09 1993-01-12 Lippincott Douglas E Method and apparatus for interfacing computer light pens
US5184115A (en) * 1990-06-04 1993-02-02 At&T Bell Laboratories Touch-screen arrangement
US5187467A (en) * 1991-01-10 1993-02-16 Hewlett Packard Company Universal light pen system
US5194008A (en) * 1992-03-26 1993-03-16 Spartanics, Ltd. Subliminal image modulation projection and detection system and method
US5310192A (en) * 1991-12-28 1994-05-10 Nintendo Co., Ltd. Shooting game and external storage used therefor
US5572251A (en) * 1994-03-17 1996-11-05 Wacom Co., Ltd. Optical position detecting unit and optical coordinate input unit
US5610629A (en) * 1991-12-06 1997-03-11 Ncr Corporation Pen input to liquid crystal display
US5831601A (en) * 1995-06-07 1998-11-03 Nview Corporation Stylus position sensing and digital camera with a digital micromirror device
US5852434A (en) * 1992-04-03 1998-12-22 Sekendur; Oral F. Absolute optical position determination

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2214388A (en) * 1988-01-08 1989-08-31 Moving Picture Co Inc Video Data Indicating Apparatus
US5442147A (en) * 1991-04-03 1995-08-15 Hewlett-Packard Company Position-sensing apparatus
US5420607A (en) * 1992-09-02 1995-05-30 Miller; Robert F. Electronic paintbrush and color palette

Patent Citations (44)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4984073A (en) * 1954-12-24 1991-01-08 Lemelson Jerome H Methods and systems for scanning and inspecting images
US4979029A (en) * 1963-03-11 1990-12-18 Lemelson Jerome H Method and systems for scanning and inspecting images
US3505561A (en) * 1967-02-14 1970-04-07 Massachusetts Inst Technology Analog pen tracking on a cathode ray tube display device
US3506875A (en) * 1967-06-28 1970-04-14 Hitachi Ltd Pen-tracking system in cathode-ray tube display equipment
US3551896A (en) * 1968-01-15 1970-12-29 Ibm Deductive light pen tracking system
US3576574A (en) * 1968-01-15 1971-04-27 Ibm Light pen tracking unit with alternative tracking patterns
US3543240A (en) * 1968-05-06 1970-11-24 Rca Corp Light pen operating with remote graphic display
US3594608A (en) * 1969-05-12 1971-07-20 Tektronix Inc Electron beam display system having light detector pen with associated sampling and memory circuits
US3944988A (en) * 1969-11-21 1976-03-16 Compagnie Internationale Pour L'informatique - C.I.I. Image-display system interacting with light pen
US3659281A (en) * 1970-01-19 1972-04-25 Nippon Electric Co Light pen tracking system
US3758717A (en) * 1970-05-28 1973-09-11 Ibm Se information free hand drawing display system utilizing light pen to write and era
US3832693A (en) * 1971-08-29 1974-08-27 Fujitsu Ltd System for reading out the coordinates of information displayed on a matrix type display device
US3993861A (en) * 1975-03-24 1976-11-23 Sanders Associates, Inc. Digital video modulation and demodulation system
US4190851A (en) * 1975-09-17 1980-02-26 Hughes Aircraft Company Monolithic extrinsic silicon infrared detectors with charge coupled device readout
US4126851A (en) * 1975-11-03 1978-11-21 Okor Joseph K Programmable television game system
US4205847A (en) * 1976-11-23 1980-06-03 Loewe-Opta Gmbh Target video game avoiding erroneous counts
US4210329A (en) * 1976-11-23 1980-07-01 Loewe-Opta Gmbh Videogame with mechanically disjoint target detector
US4185825A (en) * 1977-08-08 1980-01-29 Coleco Industries, Inc. Television target game and method
US4243972A (en) * 1979-03-29 1981-01-06 Esmark, Incorporated Method of and apparatus for signature coded target recognition
US4367465A (en) * 1980-04-04 1983-01-04 Hewlett-Packard Company Graphics light pen and method for raster scan CRT
US4395045A (en) * 1980-06-16 1983-07-26 Sanders Associates, Inc. Television precision target shooting apparatus and method
US4377810A (en) * 1980-12-04 1983-03-22 Data General Corporation Light pen detection circuit and method
US4602907A (en) * 1981-08-17 1986-07-29 Foster Richard W Light pen controlled interactive video system
US4608601A (en) * 1982-07-12 1986-08-26 The Moving Picture Company Inc. Video response testing apparatus
US4675665A (en) * 1982-12-22 1987-06-23 International Business Machines Corporation Realtime tracking of a movable cursor
US4591841A (en) * 1983-11-01 1986-05-27 Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation Long range optical pointing for video screens
US4815733A (en) * 1984-12-28 1989-03-28 Nintendo Co., Ltd. Photosensing video game control system
US4813682A (en) * 1985-08-09 1989-03-21 Nintendo Co., Ltd. Video target control and sensing circuit for photosensitive gun
US4999617A (en) * 1985-10-24 1991-03-12 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Device for reading patterns displayed on a display unit
US4956639A (en) * 1985-12-23 1990-09-11 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Display data processing device
US4922236A (en) * 1988-04-25 1990-05-01 Richard Heady Fiber optical mouse
US5134389A (en) * 1989-02-01 1992-07-28 International Business Machines Corporation Display terminal device
US5051736A (en) * 1989-06-28 1991-09-24 International Business Machines Corporation Optical stylus and passive digitizing tablet data input system
US5179368A (en) * 1989-11-09 1993-01-12 Lippincott Douglas E Method and apparatus for interfacing computer light pens
US5184115A (en) * 1990-06-04 1993-02-02 At&T Bell Laboratories Touch-screen arrangement
US5119075A (en) * 1990-06-18 1992-06-02 At&T Bell Laboratories Scheme for determining position of surface contact of cathode ray tube screen
US5138304A (en) * 1990-08-02 1992-08-11 Hewlett-Packard Company Projected image light pen
US5187467A (en) * 1991-01-10 1993-02-16 Hewlett Packard Company Universal light pen system
US5610629A (en) * 1991-12-06 1997-03-11 Ncr Corporation Pen input to liquid crystal display
US5310192A (en) * 1991-12-28 1994-05-10 Nintendo Co., Ltd. Shooting game and external storage used therefor
US5194008A (en) * 1992-03-26 1993-03-16 Spartanics, Ltd. Subliminal image modulation projection and detection system and method
US5852434A (en) * 1992-04-03 1998-12-22 Sekendur; Oral F. Absolute optical position determination
US5572251A (en) * 1994-03-17 1996-11-05 Wacom Co., Ltd. Optical position detecting unit and optical coordinate input unit
US5831601A (en) * 1995-06-07 1998-11-03 Nview Corporation Stylus position sensing and digital camera with a digital micromirror device

Cited By (22)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6593972B1 (en) * 1998-05-12 2003-07-15 Clark E. Johnson, Jr. Interactive display system
US7804494B2 (en) 1998-12-15 2010-09-28 Intel Corporation Pointing device with integrated audio input and associated methods
US7656397B2 (en) 1998-12-15 2010-02-02 Intel Corporation Pointing device with integrated audio input and associated methods
US20080170049A1 (en) * 1998-12-15 2008-07-17 Larson Jim A Pointing device with integrated audio input and associated methods
US7233321B1 (en) 1998-12-15 2007-06-19 Intel Corporation Pointing device with integrated audio input
US7119788B2 (en) * 1998-12-17 2006-10-10 Sony Corporation Image processing apparatus, image processing method, providing medium and presentation system
US20030011566A1 (en) * 1998-12-17 2003-01-16 Shinichiro Gomi Image processing apparatus, image processing method, providing medium and presentation system
US20060072828A1 (en) * 1999-10-25 2006-04-06 Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd Method and system for digitizing freehand graphics with user-selected properties
US7503493B2 (en) * 1999-10-25 2009-03-17 Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd Method and system for digitizing freehand graphics with user-selected properties
US8091787B2 (en) 1999-10-25 2012-01-10 Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd Processing system for digitizing freehand graphics
US20090135163A1 (en) * 1999-10-25 2009-05-28 Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd System For Digitizing Freehand Graphics On A Printed Surface
US20110174882A1 (en) * 1999-10-25 2011-07-21 Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd Processing system for digitizing freehand graphics
US7934656B2 (en) 1999-10-25 2011-05-03 Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd Digitizing system having printed base, imaging pen and relay device
US7832640B2 (en) 1999-10-25 2010-11-16 Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd System for digitizing freehand graphics on a printed surface
US20110024492A1 (en) * 1999-10-25 2011-02-03 Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd Digitizing system having printed base, imaging pen and relay device
US6373464B1 (en) 2000-02-04 2002-04-16 R&R Design And Development Ltd. Magnifying glass computer input device
US6947033B2 (en) * 2000-03-21 2005-09-20 Anoto Ab Method and system for digitizing freehand graphics with user-selected properties
US20020008721A1 (en) * 2000-03-21 2002-01-24 Christer Fahraeus Method and system for digitizing freehand graphics with user-selected properties
US6839049B1 (en) * 2000-11-17 2005-01-04 Intel Corporation Physically interacting with a processor-based display
US20020190966A1 (en) * 2001-06-15 2002-12-19 Bjorn Fermgard Pen
US7954820B2 (en) 2004-05-10 2011-06-07 Melissa Ines Bermudez Mixed media game and methods
US20050272493A1 (en) * 2004-05-10 2005-12-08 Bermudez Melissa I Mixed media game and methods

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO1998035336A1 (en) 1998-08-13
EP1016063A4 (en) 2002-11-06
CA2280514A1 (en) 1998-08-13
EP1016063A1 (en) 2000-07-05
JP2001511275A (en) 2001-08-07
AU5234498A (en) 1998-08-26
IL120186A0 (en) 1997-06-10
IL120186A (en) 2000-06-01

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US6061052A (en) Display pointing device
EP2325727B1 (en) Drawing, writing and pointing device for human-computer interaction
US5707160A (en) Infrared based computer input devices including keyboards and touch pads
US8022928B2 (en) Free-space pointing and handwriting
US5341133A (en) Keyboard having touch sensor keys for conveying information electronically
CA2480057C (en) Symbol encoding apparatus and method
US6323838B1 (en) Photosensitive input peripheral device in a personal computer-based video gaming platform
US8897494B2 (en) Computer interface employing a manipulated object with absolute pose detection component and a display
US6965374B2 (en) Information input method using wearable information input device
US5717610A (en) Coordinate input device
EP0686935A1 (en) Pointing interface
US20030095708A1 (en) Capturing hand motion
US5577848A (en) Light controlled touch pad for cursor and selection control on a computer display
US20020167489A1 (en) Pushbutton optical screen pointing device
EP0689122A1 (en) Data input processor
US20020186200A1 (en) Method and apparatus for human interface with a computer
US20040125076A1 (en) Method and apparatus for human interface with a computer
JP2001195181A (en) Optical pointing device
EP0477910A2 (en) Image processing based computer input apparatus
WO2000070551A1 (en) Stylus pen for writing on the monitor
KR20180006119A (en) Method and system of operating 3d contents using electronic pen
US7542025B2 (en) Input apparatus for a computer system
JP2989306B2 (en) Coordinate input device
RU12279U1 (en) PHOTOELECTRIC CONVERTER OF REMOTE OPTICAL INDICATOR FOR RAST INDICATORS
CN111813232A (en) VR keyboard and VR office device

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
FPAY Fee payment

Year of fee payment: 4

FEPP Fee payment procedure

Free format text: PAYOR NUMBER ASSIGNED (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: ASPN); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY

REMI Maintenance fee reminder mailed
LAPS Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees
STCH Information on status: patent discontinuation

Free format text: PATENT EXPIRED DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEES UNDER 37 CFR 1.362

FP Lapsed due to failure to pay maintenance fee

Effective date: 20080509